Apparatus for classifying and concentrating minerals, ores, and the like, also applicable to the requirements of mineral-dredging



W. W. RICHARDSON. APPARATUS FOR CLASSI-FYING. AND CONCENTRATINGMINERALS, (IRES, AND THE LIKE, ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OFMINERAL DREDGING. I APPLICATION FILED JULY 71 1919' I 1,374,472.Patented Apr. 12, 19214 4 SHEETS-SHEET I- Fiehl lNvsufok' WILLIAMWHITEHEAD RICHARDSON AfTORNEYS ORRIS PETER S, INC.. LUNG" WASHINGTON. DC.

W. W. RICHARDSON. APPARATUS FOR CLASSIFYING AND CONCENTRATING MINERALS,ORES, AND THE LIKE, ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF MINERALDREDGING.

. APPLICATIONFILED JULY 7, I9I9- 1,374,472. Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

A I x l lG.4-. I G- Z Z n 41, 7 4

A I Z 77/I/L ll 1 r I i a a [I I L H L i I L g) 1i I i I INVENTOR WILL[AM WH/TEHEAURICHPRDMN ATTORNEY W. W. RICHARDSON; APPARATUS FORCLASSLFYING AND CONCENTRATING MINERALS, ORES, AND THE LIKE ALSOAPPLICABLE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF MINERAL DREDGING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1919- 1,374,472, Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- W. W. RICHARDSON. APPARATUS FOR CLASSIFYING ANDCONCENTRATING MINERALS, ORES, AND THE LIKE ,ALSO

APPLICABLE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF MiNERAL DREDGING.

- APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1919.

1,374,472, Patented Apr 12, 19211 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' MAL/AM Mam/40 Bow/mm fiywh I A TTWIYEYS.

' UNITED s 'r'rss WILLIAM WHI'TEHEAD RICHARDSON, or LonnomnueLANi).

APPARATUS FOR CLASSIFYING Ann ooncnnraarrne MInnRi Ls, onus, AN THELIKE, ALSO APPLICABLE TO rr-rnnne'ommannrs or IvIINE AL-DREDGIN G,

To alllwiwm it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, lVILLI M VVHITEHEAD RICHARDSON, subject of the-Kingof Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 4' London Wall Buildings,London, in-the-county of London, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Apparatus for I Classifying and ConcentratingMinerals,

Ores, and thelike, also .Applicable to the Requirements of' Mineral;Dredging, which the following is a specification.

.v The present invention relates to apparatus for classifying andconcentrating minerals, ores or the like and has for its object toprovide apparatus whereby .a more effective grading or separation of thedifferent values These ridges and grooveslareintersected by a series oftransverse grooves and ridges, some of which extend at right angleswhile others are arranged at an obtuse angle to the longitudinalgrooves, in order to obtain a more effective concentation and separationo the material under treatment. 1

A further feature of the' invention consists in the adaptability of theimproved whereby the minerals are reduced and/or graded andautomatically extracted from a continuous flow of alluvial gravel, theconcentrate beingenriched. by its passage through each series or groupof concentra- Specificationof Letters Patent. Pai nf d A iggApplicatiomfiled J'u1y 7,-1919. Serial'No. 309,164, i a i PAT N -Q F'.it

ily understoodreferenceis made to the accompanying drawings in which c IFigure 1 alongitudinal elevation, and ,Fig. 2 an end view ofa trommelshowing the improved means for supporting and driving same, when usedfor'rtreating alluvial .ores.

. Fi rilileplate with which the trommelislined.

. Fig. 4L is across section on the line X Y,

of Fig. 3.

g. 3 is an enlajrgediview of part of a Fig. 5 is a viewpartlyinsectionof the rifle plates arranged in stepped formation for-use inconcentrators for the-treatment of comminuted ores-1, Y a

, Figs. 6, 7 and 8, are diagrammatic views showing the invention appliedto a plant for treating material raised by dredges, Fig.

6'being an end elevation partly in section,

Fig. 7 a side elevation also g partly in .section, and'FIg. 8a;,plan,-while Fig. 9-isa detail view showing the method of impartingrotationto the trommelsf I Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the trommela twoor more pairs of. driving wheels I), 7),

each provided with a rubber tire or rimcb arranged on eachside of thetrommel. vThese driving wheels are carried by shafts 0 e'X- tending thewhole length of, andfapprox'imately' parallel with, the trommel, "saidshafts being supported at'or near each'end infsuitable bearings orplummer blocks (5 adjustably mounted on the frame 0 con: stituting thelower portion of the apparatus.- Either one or both of the shaftscarrying the driving wheels. may be driven from-a -motor or the like 7through the sprocket wheels 9 and chain it, orany other suitable drivingmeans may be employed.

The longitudinal axis of the trommel may i. if necessarybe-inclinedto'the horizontal by increasing the distance between thehearings or plummer blocks 0? at'the discharge end of'the machine, orthe two sets of driving wheels at each end of the trommels may bemounted on separate shafts. The feed end of the trommel is, provide withan outwardly projecting annular flange or rim i which may be formed byangle iron as shown or-in any other suitable mannenw This flange is.adapted to rotate in; consurfaces form the selecting surfaces of the isrotatably mounted ona sole plate secured to the frame and serves toprevent axial movement of the trommel.

. The inner'periphery of the trommel is lined with rifile plates, Fig.3, whose inner concentrator. These plates, which may be made ofnon-corros1ve tempered steel, or

' mild steel, cast iron, manganese steel, or

any other suitable -material, are provided along the1r inner surfacesw1th a series of longitudinal graduated grooves or channels 3. Thesegrooves are so arranged that the width of the ridges a formed betweeneach pair of grooves "isgreater than the width of the grooves, in orderto obtain the maXimum resistance to excessivewear, and starting from theforward moving edge of the plates, eac11 groovejgradually increases inWidth and depth up to the following edge of the plate so that graduatedclassification and effective concentration of the dirt and 'minerals isobtained. Each section of the rifile plates is also formed withtransverse ridges n extending approximately at right angles to thelongitudinal grooves and with grooves g extending at an obtuse angle tosaid longitudinal grooves thus forming a series of vortices whichenables a more effective mechanical separation and concentration of theminerals to be produced.

The material carried around on the inner. surfaces of the riffie platesis'washed off by a spray of water from the stationary pipe 8.

. discharge end as shown in Fig. 4; forming a series of steps, andproducing a more effective precipitation of the mineral values.

The trommel-may be provideduwith one or'more troughs or trays 1'(Fig. 1) and with a delivery chute t projecting into the feed'end of thetrommel a. one trough or tray is used, 'they'may be arranged in such amanner that the lowermost tray projects the greatest distance within thetrommel while the uppermost tray projects the shortest distance therein.

The troughs 1 may be arranged so that the material'washed from thegrooved inner v periphery of the trommel onto the trays is discharged atopposite ends of the trommel the coarser particles toward one end andthe pumps through the chute 3. trommel Zpreferably extendslongitudinally If more than the opposite ends while longitudinalmovement of the-trommel is preventedby the provision of two or more setsof thrust rollers engaging opposite sides of the central annular flangeor rim 2' or the inner face of the flanges or rims i on each end of thetrommel.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, which show the application of theinvention to a plant for treating materials raised by a. dredge, theapparatus comprisesa suitable staging or framing '1 on the deck of adredger, pontoon or the like vessel. The crude materialis delivered: into the central perforated trommel 2, mounted on the upper portion ofthe-staging, bybuckets or gravel The central of the frame, while thethree groups of trommel concentrators 4, 5 and 6, respectively, arearranged in tiers at approximately right angles to, and on each side ofthe central trommel. The inner periphery of each of the trommels 4, 5and 6, is lined with rifile plates as hereinbefore described.

The central trommel 'is supported and rotated by a series of wheels ordisks 7 fixedly mounted on shafts 6 disposed on each side of thetrommels and paralleltherewith, said shafts rotating in suitablebearings-fixed to the frame 1. V

One or both the shafts 8 is driven-from a driving shaft 9 throughsprocket wheels 10 and chains 11, or by any other convenient means. Eachof the trommels tof the first series orgroup are supported on wheels ordisks 12 secured to shafts 13,0ne or' both of which carries a worm wheel14 engaging a worm 15-on the driving shaft 9 (Fig. 9). The trommelsofthe second series or group are supported on wheels 16 mounted onshafts 17 one or both of which has a'worm wheel 18 d'riven'by a worm 19on the driving shaft 20, while the trommels 60f the bird series or groupare supported by wheels 21 on shafts 22, one'or both being driventhrough worm wheel 23 and worm' 24 on. the driving shaft 25. The drivingshafts 9, 20, and 25 are driven from the shaft 26 by a motor orothersuitable'source of power, through pulley wheels 27 and belts'28 aswill be readily'understood. 'If

necessary pinion wheels or friction wheels may be substituted for theworm drive.

The central trommel 2 is perforated over either the whole of or part ofits periphery, the size of perforations being such as to permit spheresor the likeof'a 'predeter mined size to'pass' through; Beneath this.trommel is a trough or channel 29 extending the whole length of thetrommel, the

sides of which have suitable apertures or 55 t The trough isprovidedwithan adjustable cover hinged thereto in such amanneras to.

ports to enable the materialto befed into the inner ends'of the trommels4. The bottom of the trough is inclined downwardly toward each sideasshownin Fig.1. Ex-

tending within each of the trommels 4 is a tray or trough 30v into whichthe material washed off the 'inner'periphery of the trommel'isdelivered. The outer ends of these trays terminateabovelongitudinal launders .31 which are inclined slightly towardone i endand are provided with downwardly extending; chutes 32 terminating attheir lower ends within each of the trommels 5' of the second series orgroup, the concentrate or'selected material from the-first series beingdelivered at the outer ends of said trommels. The passages or openingsfrom the launders 31 tothe 'chutes 32::are

preferably arranged in such amanner as toenable the opening to beadjusted or varied to regulate the flow of material therethrough. asdesired. 7

Extending within each ofthe trommels 5 are trays or troughs 33downwardly inclinedtowardtheinner ends of the trommels, and terminatingat' their lowerends above longitudinal launders. from which extenddownwardly, chutes 34 through which the mineral values are conveyed tothe inner ends of thetrommels 6 of the third second group of trommels isconveyed to the 7 the upper internal surface of the'ztrommel,

dump by launders 39 arrangedbeneath the inner ends of said trommels. i

. Within the central trommel 2, andeach of the trommels 4,5 and 6, ismounted a water spraying device which extends longi- 'tudinally over thewhole length of the perforated portion of the trommel 2, and over atleast the whole length of the troughs or trays 30,33, 35 of the trommels4-, 5, 6,re.-. specti vely. "The spraying device comprisesa'longitudinal trough within which is rotatably mounted a propeller likedevice.

permit the width ofithega'p'or longitudinal opening betweenthetrough'and the cover through which the'water is projected on to to beadjusted. The trough is preferably carried by and. supplied with waterfrom a suitably arranged pipe. These-troughsmay if necessary be replacedby perforated waterpipes partly shown in thedrawings at 4:0 and 41inFig. 6. 1 The operation of the apparatus is. as .fol-

owsz- Y The crude material delivered" by the buckets or pump of thedredger is conveyed down thechute 3 into one end of the central trommel2. The rotation of the latter, which causes the material to beconstantly turned over, results in the spheres of smaller sizes fallingthrough the perforationsinto the trough or channel .29 from which theyare conveyed into the inner ends of the trommels 4 arranged on eachside, the larger spheres-being carried through the trommels to the chute43 or by a 'conveyer or other suitable form of transporter to the dump?!The mineral ,values and a portion of the gravel of suitable size toinclude the maximum size of mineral values is carried around by therotation of the trommels 4 and washed off the. surface thereof into thetrays 30 which lead the concentrates into the trommels 5 of the secondseries or. group through the-launders 31 and chutes. 32. The oversize ofgravel is "carried by the water from the trommels i into the launders 37tothe dump. The trommels .5 of the second series gradually enrich theconcentrate which is'fwashed offthe inner surface of the trommels on tothe trays 33 where: it is conveyed down the chutes34c into the inner endofthetrommels 6 of the third se ries or group, the debris flowingthrough V the launders 30 and away to the dump. The final separation ofthe minerals from the sand or gravel is'made in the trommels 6 of thethird series, the concentrate now in the form'of a clean mineral beingdeliveredinto the trucks 36' from the outer ends of the trays 35. q

The trommel 2, instead ofbeingperfo-i rated, may if necessary beprovided with a grooved inner surface as herei'nbefore described, inwhich case the tray or traysconveying' the selected material would bearranged to lead such-material to the longitudinal trough 29. I

. Theworm gear drive oneach of the driving shafts may be slidably keyedthereto,

so as to enable the rotation of any of; the trommels to'bel stopped ifdesired... )The worm igear. drive, may if necessary be re,

placed by pinion or friction wheel driving.

mechanism or the various shafts may be directly driven from the maindriving shaft.

It will be understood that the number of trommels in each seriesor'group' maybeincreased or decreased to suit the output de-' sired{while the tromm'elsmaybe arranged at any other angle than-at rightangles to the axis of the center trommel.

-; The trommels of each series may also if necessary be placed in oneplane as shown,

or superimposed 1n one or more tiers.

What I claim as my invention and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is IV 1. Apparatus for classifying and concentrating mineral ores comprisingat least one trommel, rifHe plates on the interior surface of saidtrommel, said riffle plates having a series of graduated ridges andgrooves on their surfaces, arranged longitudinally of the trommel, thewidth .over the ridges be ing greaterthan-the width over the grooves,while the width and depth of the grooves increase from the forwardmoving edge of each riflle plate. v

2. Apparatus for classifyingand concentrating mineral ores, comprisingat least one trommel, riflie plates on the interior surface of saidtrommel, said riffle plates having a series of graduated ridges andgrooves on their surfaces, arranged longitudinally of the trommel, thewidths and depths of the individual grooves increasing from the forwardmoving edge'of each rifile plate while the ridgesbetween said groovesare of greater width than the grooves, and-additional ridges disposedsubstantially at right angles to the longitudinal grooves. I

3. Apparatus for classifying and concen trating mineral ores comprisingat least'one trommel, rifiie plates on the interior .surface of saidtrommel, said riffie plates have ing a series of graduated ridges andgrooves on their surfacesarranged longitudinally of the trommel, thewidths and depths of the individual grooves increasing from the forwardmoving edge "of the plate, while the ridges between said grooves are ofgreater width than the, grooves and additional grooves disposed atanobtuse angle to said graduated longitudinal grooves. 4. Apparatus for:classifying and trOmmeL rifHeplateS on the interior surface of saidtrommel, said rifiie plates have ing a series of graduated grooves on:their surfaces arranged longitudinally of ,the

trommel, the widths and depths of the 'indi- 'in stepped formationhaving-a series of vidual grooves increasing from the forward movingedge of the plate, while ridges between said grooves arevof greaterwidth than the grooves and additional grooves disposed substantially atright angles to the longitudinal grooves and additional grooves disposedat an obtuse angle to said graduated longitudinal grooves. I V 5.Apparatus for classifying and concentrating mineral ores comprising'atleast one trommel, riffle plates on the interior surface of saidtrommel, Said rifile plates-having a series of grooves on their surfacesarranged longitudinally of the trommel, the

widths and depths of the individual grooves increasing from'theforwardmoving edge of the rifile plate, and means for rotating saidtrommel. V

'gPOOVGS and HIGELIIS 6. Apparatus for classifying'and concen tratingmineralores comprisingat least one trommel, rifiie plates on theinteroir surface o'f'said trommel,.said riflle plates'having a series ofgraduated grooves on theirsurfaces arranged longitudinally of thetrommel, the widths and depths of the individual grooves increasing fromthe forward moving edge-of the riflie plate while the ridges betweensaid grooves are "of greater. width than the of said trommeL'saidriifie'plates having a series of graduated grooves on their surfacesarranged longltudinally ofthe trom m'el,'the widths and depths of theindividual grooves increasing from the forward mov-V ing edge of theriflle plate while the ridges between said grooves are of greater widththanthe grooves, addltional ridges dlsposed substantially at rightanglesto the longitudinal grooves, additional grooves disposed at an obtuseangle to said graduated longi-- tudinal grooves, and means for rotatingsaid trommel,v H '7 8. Apparatus for classifying and concentratingmineral ores comprising at least one trommel, riflle plates on theinterior surfaces of said trommel,said. riflle platesoarranged instepped formation having a' series of graduated grooves on theirsurfaces, arranged longitudinally of the trommel, the widths'anddepths'of the individual grooves r differing from one another, ridgesbetween concentrating mineral ores comprlsing at leastone,

said longitudinal grooves of greater width than the grooves and meansfor rotating saidtrominel.

9.- Apparatus for classifying and concen- V trating mineral orescomprising at least one trommel, rlffle plates on the interior surfaceof sald trommel, said rifiie plates arranged graduated grooves on theirsurfaces, ar-

ranged longitudinally of the trommel, the widths'and depths of theindividual grooves differingfrom one another, ridges between saidlongitudinal grooves offgreater width longitudinal grooves.

10. Apparatus for classifying and concentrating mineral ores comprisingat least one trommel, rifflei plates on the interior surface of saidtrommel, said riflie plates arranged in stepped formation having a"series of graduated grooves on" their surfaces, arranged longitudinallyof the trommel, the

widths and depths of the individual grooves differing from one another,ridges between said longitudinal grooves of greater width than thegrooves, additional ridges disposed substantially at right angles to thegrooves,

additional grooves disposed at an obtuse angle to said graduatedlongitudinal grooves, and means for rotating said trommel.

11. Apparatus for classifying and concentrating mineral ores comprisingat least one trommel, rifHe plates on the interior surface of saidtrommel, said rifiie plates having a series of graduated grooves ontheir surfaces arranged longitudinally trommel, the widths and depths ofthe individual grooves differing from one another, ridges between saidgrooves of greater width than the grooves, means for rotating saidtrommel, the smallest grooves being disposed at the leading edges of theplates, and stationary inclined trays within said trommel for collectingthe selected material.

I 12. Apparatus for classifying and c0ncen trating mineral orescomprising at least one trommel, rifll'e plates on the interior surfaceof said trommel, said riflie plates arranged in stepped formation havinga series of graduated grooves on their surfaces arranged longitudinallyof the trommel, the

widths and depths of the individual grooves differing from one another,ridges between said grooves of greater width than the grooves,additional ridges disposed substantially at right angles to thelongitudinal grooves, additional grooves disposed at an obtuse angle tosaid graduated longitudinal grooves, 'and inclined trays within saidtrommel for collecting the selected material.

13. Apparatus for classifying and concen-V trays stationary within eachof said trom- I mels for collecting the selected material and means for,transferring, the mineral values" fromthe trays in one group to theselecting surfaces on the interior of'the trommels of the next group.

' 14. Apparatus for classifying and concen trating mineral orescomprising a plurality of trommels arranged in groups, said groups,

being superimposed one above the other, riflie plates on the interior ofsaid trommels, each of said riflle plates having a series of ridges andgrooves on their'inner surfaces arranged longitudinally of the trommel,the

width over the ridges between the grooves being greater than the widthover the grooves, means for rotating said trommels trays stationary,within each of said trommels for collecting the selected material, and A-means for transferring the mineral values fromthe trays in onegroup,"to the'selecting iurfaces of the trommels of the next group elow.

WILLIAM WHITEHEAD nicmmnsou.

